Terrell Suggs Injury: Updates on Ravens Star's Achilles and Recovery

Alec NathanSep 13, 2015

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, arguably the heart and soul of the team's defense, was forced to leave the season opener against the Denver Broncos on a cart after he suffered a torn Achilles.

Continue for updates.

Suggs Could Be Forced to Retire

Monday, Sept. 14

Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported there is "fear" Suggs' career could be over following the Achilles injury:

After appearing in just eight games during the 2012 season as he worked his way back from a torn ACL, Suggs played in all 16 games for the Ravens during the 2013 and 2014 campaigns. He then proceeded to rack up 12 sacks in 2014—which tied the second most of his career.

Teammate Elvis Dumervil summed up the significance of the loss, per James Palmer of NFL Network: "It's huge. You can never replace a Terrell Suggs."

Suggs ranks second in tackles on Baltimore's franchise leaderboard and tops it in sacks by more than 35, but the Ravens have come to be defined by their youth at linebacker over the past couple of seasons.

With C.J. Mosley, 23, and Courtney Upshaw, 25, injecting young blood at inside and outside linebacker, respectively, Suggs has evolved into the team's elder statesmen. The performance of the youngsters and the rest of the defense Sunday served as a silver lining, as Marc Sessler of NFL.com highlighted:

"
It's a tremendous loss for the Ravens, but what we saw from Baltimore on Sunday provides hope: The team frazzled Peyton Manning, sacking the Broncos quarterback four times and holding Denver to just 3.2 yards per play. Losing Suggs—one of six players with 100 sacks since 2003—will mean more playing time for Dumervil and added pressure on Courtney Upshaw and fourth-round pick Za'Darius Smith.
"

Baltimore's commitment to infusing its defense with depth will mitigate the loss of Suggs, but the 32-year-old's ability to set the edge and provide pressure on the quarterback won't be replaced easily as the Ravens look to contend in the AFC North.